Volunteers who love sports and want to work with children in schools, but would prefer not to spend all their time teaching in a classroom. As you will be volunteering alongside local teachers, you don’t need any previous teaching experience, however it is important to note that you may be required to teach other classes such as math, English, science or social studies.

Project details

Have the goal of volunteering in Sports Education in Kenya? International Volunteer HQ’s Sports Education project enables volunteers to gain teaching experience in local schools in and around Nairobi. Volunteers will be able to share their passion for sport with disadvantaged students who use it as an outlet for fun and competition while also gaining skills and coordination.

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

Sport plays a big role in the lives of young, enthusiastic Kenyans. Many children grow up with very little, but by using sport as an outlet for fun and competition, they gain skills and coordination while enjoying themselves at the same time.

As a volunteer on the Sports Education project in Kenya, you’ll help to broaden students’ knowledge of sports, teach foreign sports and educate them about general fitness, health and wellbeing.

Volunteer duties may vary but often include:

Assisting local teachers with physical education lessons inside and outside the classroom
Teaching popular sports like football, basketball, volleyball and other co-curricular activities
Introduce new sports from your home country
Lesson planning
Volunteers may also be required to teach other classes such as English, math, science or social studies.

It is important to be aware that resources at the schools are limited and if you want to teach a sport or game that requires specific gear you may need to plan ahead and bring some materials or equipment with you, as it’s unlikely you will find it in Kenya.

Why do Sports Education volunteering in Kenya with IVHQ?

As a sports volunteer in Kenya you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

Providing students with physical and health education
Helping students develop life skills in a safe place
Developing your communication skills
Gaining teaching experience
Immersing yourself in Kenya’s diverse culture

Volunteer requirements

Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
All volunteers must speak fluent English.

Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

Not sure which program to join?

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Who is going?

Group video calls

Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.

Kenya photo gallery

IVHQ Childcare project

Women's Education volunteer in Kenya with IVHQ

IVHQ Women's Education project

IVHQ Childcare project

IVHQ Women's Education Volunteer in Kenya

IVHQ Women's Education project

IVHQ Women's Education Volunteers in Kenya

IVHQ Women's Education project

IVHQ Childcare project

IVHQ Special Needs volunteer in Kenya with IVHQ

IVHQ Special Needs project

What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

Tommy Simpson

16 Aug 2024

IVHQ were great, the preparation they gave me was really helpful and the resources I received were amazing. The local team were the best if ever we needed anything they would be there to help.

The impact the children and the school have had on me has been huge, the kids were always so happy despite their disadvantages and it has created a new sense of the world for me.

My host Mum was amazing and the food was always amazing too. The house was always clean.

I would suggest to anyone hesitant about joining a program to just go for it. I was also hesitant about joining and it was the best thing I've ever done. Everyone is in the same position as you and also there for the same experience.

...

Matthew Crudgington

08 Aug 2024

I was certainly out of my comfort zone, however, the host made the week special. To enjoy the week, you have to let go of your anxiety, trust the process and go all in.

...

Bastian Crudgington

08 Aug 2024

Join the Sports Education project in Nairobi! It's a great atmosphere. The people are great and I had loads of fun playing football with the kids. They were so happy to have other children visit them as volunteers (they especially loved my Messi t-shirt). I loved their positivity and never giving up attitude.

...

Ona Crudgington

08 Aug 2024

As a volunteer you will make bonds and memories and there's nothing better than putting yourself out there. The program will also give you joy as you will be making a difference.

...

Elisabeth Crudgington

06 Aug 2024

We volunteered as a family (children aged 11 and 15) on the Sports Education Program in Nairobi and we had a great experience. We were all stretched in different ways, contributed in different ways according to our strengths, and gained differently from the experience. At the same time it was a superb experience to share and support one another in!

Having IVHQ and the local team support gave me the confidence to take my kids to places I would never have dared to take them alone. Playing sports with disadvantaged children was an excellent way to connect across cultures, and we were astounded by how much joy was shared. We were also so impressed and humbled by the energy and commitment of local staff and volunteers from the community setting such a positive example to us all. We gained more than we could have imagined!

...

Asadi Ceccarelli

15 Dec 2021

Great programme, 100% would recommend to anyone considering. Had the best month of my life. Had the best time, I will be back.

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

Learn about course credit

Location

Location

Nairobi is home to IVHQ’s Kenya program. The capital city of Kenya is a dynamic, diverse metropolis known for its natural beauty and wildlife safaris. Volunteer projects are set in and around Nairobi and the Kibera Slum which is home to hundreds of thousands of people living below the poverty line. Volunteers can help by providing support to local initiatives designed to improve their quality of life and access to basic essentials.

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation begins on the 1st and 15th of every month and volunteers need to arrive in Nairobi the day before orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.

When you arrive, a member of the local team will greet you at the airport and bring you to temporary volunteer housing in Mlolongo, just a short drive from the airport in Nairobi, where you will spend the night before your orientation and before being transported to your homestay. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation. If you are traveling in Kenya prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up overland in Nairobi the day before your program orientation

Orientation is hosted by our local team in Nairobi on the morning of your chosen start date and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Kenya – an introduction to Kenya, Kenyan customs, language training details, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Kenya, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing. Once your orientation is complete, you will be transported to your homestay and introduced to your host family.

Volunteer schedule example

First day

You will be escorted to your placement by a member of your homestay family or another volunteer and introduced to the placement staff.

Weekdays

You may have a morning or afternoon shift, or both, and can expect to work a minimum of 3 hours, Monday through Friday. Work and hours at the placement are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at, but a typical volunteer day would be as follows:

7:30 AM	Breakfast with the host family
8:30 AM - 2:00 PM	Volunteers travel to their placements and meet with the placement staff. There is usually a morning tea break and lunch break.
2:00 - 5:00 PM	Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to their homestays, go sightseeing or do some shopping.
7:00 - 8:00 PM	Dinner with the host family

Weekends

During the weekends, volunteers have free time to relax or take the opportunity to explore Nairobi, wider Kenya and Eastern Africa. Sunday is a religious day of rest. If you wish, you can accompany your host family to their local church, as a Kenyan church service is a unique and special experience for many volunteers.

In Nairobi you’ll have the opportunity to get up close to a wide variety of wildlife including elephants and giraffes, visit the Nairobi National Park, shop at the many markets and malls, learn about Kenya’s history at museums, or tour Nairobi city, the Kibera Slum, the Maasailands, or the Bomas cultural center.

Long weekends can be taken to travel further afield including to Mombasa, Uganda or Tanzania, or to embark on a safari.

Accommodation and WiFi

Volunteers are accommodated in homestays with local families who have been approved by our local team in Kenya. Volunteers can expect to share a bedroom with two to four other volunteers of the same gender.

Bedrooms have single or bunk beds and bedding is provided. Living is comfortable and most homestays have electricity, running water and western bathrooms. It is important to note that there are often power outages and water shortages, and volunteers need to be prepared to have the occasional bucket shower and periods of time without power. Some rural homestays do not have electricity or running water and in these locations you can expect to find squat/pit toilets and bucket showers.

Our local team gives your host family a fee for your support, food and board. It is exciting to stay with a host family, and you’ll have a unique opportunity to learn about the Kenyan way of life, meet local people, try local food, speak the local language and engage in local customs and traditions.

WiFi can be accessed from local cafes and restaurants within walking distance of most homestays in Nairobi.

Meals

The wide range of Kenyan tribes, ethnicities and cultures are reflected in the diversity of the local cuisine. Volunteers are provided with three meals a day which are served at the accommodation and tend to be rich in carbohydrates.

Breakfast is served around 7 am and generally consists of chai tea, coffee, toast, fruit and sometimes mandazi - African donuts. A typical lunch can include vegetables and lentils with rice, occasional meat and fruit served around 1pm. If you are not returning home from your placement for lunch, you will need to pack your own lunch in the morning. Dinner is usually served around 8 pm and typically includes traditional food, such as ugali; a cornmeal porridge, mboga; a vegetable dish, irio; mashed potatoes with peas and corn, meat and vegetables.

Tap water is not safe to drink in Kenya, though bottled water is readily available. Volunteers typically drink around half a gallon, or two liters per day, which costs around US$15 a week. If you have any special dietary requirements, please make a note on your application so arrangements can be made. However, it is important that volunteers should not expect to eat as they normally do at home.

Group of IVHQ volunteers

Typical volunteer lunch

Typical volunteer dinner

Typical volunteer breakfast

Typical volunteer bedroom

Typical volunteer homestay kitchen

Pricing

USD
- United States Dollars - $
- Australian Dollars - AU$
- Brazilian Reals - R$
- British Pound Sterling - £
- Canadian Dollars - CA$
- Chinese Yuan - CN¥
- Euros - €
- Hong Kong Dollars - HK$
- Mexican Pesos - MX$
- New Zealand Dollars - NZ$
- Singapore Dollars - SG$
- Swiss Francs - CHF
- UAE Dirhams - AED

Duration	Program Fee Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you. USD United States Dollars - $ Australian Dollars - AU$ Brazilian Reals - R$ British Pound Sterling - £ Canadian Dollars - CA$ Chinese Yuan - CN¥ Euros - € Hong Kong Dollars - HK$ Mexican Pesos - MX$ New Zealand Dollars - NZ$ Singapore Dollars - SG$ Swiss Francs - CHF UAE Dirhams - AED
1 week	$385 Equivalent to $55/day
2 weeks	$525 Equivalent to $38/day
3 weeks	$665 Equivalent to $32/day
4 weeks	$805 Equivalent to $29/day
5 weeks	$945 Equivalent to $27/day
6 weeks	$1,085 Equivalent to $26/day
8 weeks	$1,365 Equivalent to $24/day
10 weeks	$1,645 Equivalent to $24/day
12 weeks	$1,925 Equivalent to $23/day

All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately CA$436) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Kenya generally find US$50-100 per week to be sufficient for expenses.

Meals
Airport pick-up
Accommodation
24/7 in-country support
In-country program orientation
Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

Transport to and from your placement each day
Return airport transfer when your program finishes
Flights
Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.

Popular add-ons & experiences in Kenya

Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular add-ons and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Kenya program.

Extra Night of Accommodation

Arriving early or departing a few days after your program finished? Book your extra nights of accommodation.

From CA$46

View all add-ons & experiences

Check what's required to visit Kenya

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.

Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital	Nairobi
Population	52.57 million
Languages	Swahili and English
Currency	Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Time zone	UTC+03:00

Weather and climate

Kenya enjoys a tropical climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country. As Nairobi is close to the equator the weather does not vary much. The summer months, from December to February are warm with temperatures ranging between 30°C and 14°C. June is usually the coldest month, with temperatures averaging between 13°C and 22°C.

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